Thousands of Workers Protest in Southern China

Breanna Fehr. April 10, 2008. 7:35 p.m. Labor Problems

On April 7th and 8th thousands of workers in Southern China had a sit-in protest. Workers from both the Huayun machinery Factory and the Changsha Heavy machinery Factory protested. The workers insisted that the employers follow the state policies with things such as wage compensation and placement fees. Both companies began the sit-in protest in the morning on the 7th. The police came on the 7th but not on the 8th because it was a peaceful protest.

The workers wanted commissioners to send a team to investigate the factory. They had banners saying this and that they are workers who are protecting their rights. One of the workers said that everyone was their out of their own will and about 3,000 people participated. They explained that the protest does not just involve their own rights but everyone’s rights. The local government has not sent a representative to talk to the protesters.

I think that even though these are two separate companies they are representing a whole in China. They explained that the rights they want are everyone’s rights; I think it is good that they acknowledge that. If they are thinking like a whole community rather than just as individuals in a certain company than they have a better chance of making a bigger change. Sometimes people often overlook what is going on besides what is going on in front of them; these people have clearly come together on a problem that is existing between everyone.

http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-4-10/68933.html